Stringed musical instrument



(No Model.)

I A. OLSON. STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 465,490; Patented Dec. 22, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREIV OLSON, OF MISIIAlVAKA, OREGON.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,490, dated December 22, 1891.

Application filed July 18,1891. Serial No. 399,958. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW OLSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mishawaka, in the county of Olatsop and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to stringed musical instruments, and more especially to violins, violoncellos, and the like; and the primary object of my invention is to provide a new method of stringing such instruments, whereby more beautiful and stronger musical tones can be obtained than has heretofore been possible with the ordinary method of stringing.

IVith the above object in view my invention consists in the construction of certain parts of a violin or the like and in the peculiar arrangement of the strings, all as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accom panying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a violin constructed in accordance with my invention and showing my improved method of stringing. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the tail-piece; Fig. 3, a like view of the bridge 5 Fig. 4C, a like view of the block to which one end of the strings is secured.

Although in the drawings I have illustrated my invention as applied to a violin, it will be understood that my improvements are adapted to be applied to almost any stringed instrument of this character.

A indicates a violin provided with a neck 13, finger-board 0, bridge D, and tail-piece E.

In carrying out my invention I holl'ow out or recess the neckB beneath the finger-board, whereby a recess 12 is formed, extending from the inner end of the neck to a point in proximity to the pegs H. W'ithin said recess 1), adjacent to the pegs, is secured a block I,

provided with a series of openings for a purpose presently described. The bridge D is provided with the usual notches (Z, and below the latter it is also provided with a series of openings (Z. The tail-piece E is provided near its inner end with a series of slots 9, within each of which is revolubly mounted a small pulley or roller G.

My improved method of stringing the instrument is as follows: F indicates one of the strings, (which latter in my instrument are of a length approximating twice that of the strings as strung in the ordinary manner.) One end of said string is passed through an opening 2' in block I, and a knot is then tied in the end of the string to prevent the latter from becoming detached from said block. The string is then passed through an opening d in the bridge, thence around a pulley G, through one of the notches (Z, and thence to and around a peg II, to which it is secured. It will thus be seen that each string is doubled, one portion lying directly and vertically beneath the other portion, which receives the bow, both portions being out of contact with each other, but yet sufficiently closetogether to enable the two portions of each string to vibrate in unison, whereby a most beautiful and strong tone is obtained. It will also be seen that the length of the lower portion of the string between the points where it is secured to the block I and where it passes through the opening in the bridge is the same as the other portion of said string between the points where it passes over the outer end of the finger-board and where it passes through the notch in the bridge. Thus the rates of vibration of both portions of the string are alike and both co-operate to produce one tone of a given pitch and of considerably increased strength and more beautiful than could otherwise be obtained were the ordinary method of stringing employed. It will still further be seen that when the upper portion of the string is regulated in tension by means of a peg H the tension of the lower portion of said string will also be regulated simultaneously therewith. Thus but one peg is necessary for adjusting the tension of both portions of each string.

From the above description, taken in 0011- nection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very simple method of stringing and by which I ob tain results not hitherto obtained; also, that my improvements are adapted to be applied to instruments of ordinary construction, 5 slight changes only being necessary.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a violin or other similar instrument, the combination, with the body thereof, of a neck, a finger-board, and tuning-pegs secured thereto, a recess in said neck beneath the fingerboard, a bridge provided with notches and perforations, as described, a tail-piece, and a string secured at one end adjacent to the outer end of the finger-board, passing through a perforation in the bridge, movably secured to the tail-piece, passing through a notch in the upper edge of the bridge, and secured at the opposite end to a peg, all arranged and adapted for co-operation substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In a violin or similar instrument, the combination, with the body thereof, of a neck, a fingerboard, and tunin g-pegs secu red thereto, a recess in said neck beneath the fingerboard, a block provided with perforations secured in one end of said recess, a bridge provided with notches and perforations, as described, a tail-piece provided with rotatable pulleys, and a string secured at one end to the block within the recess of the neck, passing through a perforation in the bridge, thence around a pulley of the tail-piece, through a notch in the upper edge of the bridge, and secured at the opposite end to a tuning-peg, all arranged and adapted for cooperation sub stantially as and for the purpose specified. In testimony whereof I have affixed my nature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW OLSON. '\"itnesses A. 11. SALE, J. P. DICKINSON. 

